spacing question

[smart_10357]

I am currently formatting a physics book where large numbered examples are shown without commas and replaced with spaces.

The distance from Earth to the sun is 149 600 000 000 m.

Is this format to be followed? When shown in braille it is number sign 149 space number sign 600 space number sign 000 space number sign space 000.

Thank you,

Susan

[Lindy Walton]

Hi Susan.

This notation is common in Physics. The 1972 Nemeth code book has the answer in section 11.c. "The numeric indicator must not be used after a space if the purpose of the space is to partition a numeral into segments." The new (forthcoming) code will not be changing this rule, but in UEB with Nemeth you do need to observe the following details: transcribe a partitioned number in Nemeth; keep the number all together on one line as well as on the same line as the associated abbreviation (in this case, "m").

If the number is too long to fit on one braille line, use as much of the line as you can and then start the runover line with the next segment. Do not insert a hyphen and do not use a numeric indicator at the beginning of the runover line. That would give the wrong impression that it is a new number, which it is not.

Here is how your example will be transcribed in UEB with Nemeth.

  ,! 4T.E F ,E>? TO ! SUN IS
_% #149 600 000 000 ;M _:4

Lindy

[smart_10357]

Thank you so much.

[Author]

Posts